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Explore life in the countryside at our five-star museum, farmhouse and historic working farm.
ViewOur beautiful Clydesdale horses are one of the star attractions at the National Museum of Rural Life
ViewThe Wester Kittochside Farm at National Museum of Rural Life was owned and run by the Reid family for more than 400 years.
ViewAt the National Museum of Rural Life we have a significant collection of 20th-century harvesting machines in our large machinery store.
ViewA Self-Led visit is free to book and allows you to explore the museum and farm at your own pace. Pick up a trail from the orientation area.
ViewThe National Museum of Scotland is housed in magnificent buildings. Find out about its striking architectural details below, and explore them further on your next visit to our Museum.
ViewThe National Museum of Scotland has become the first museum or gallery in Scotland available for exploration online via Google Arts & Culture’s Museum View experience.
ViewWithin the walls of Edinburgh Castle, the National War Museum tells the story of Scotland at war.
ViewWing your way to one of Scotland's top days out at East Fortune Airfield.
ViewBetween 29 November and 2 January we invited you to get creative and make art inspired by National Museums Scotland’s incredible collections and sites. There were 5 weekly themes to act as prompts for the challenge and get you thinking. As an extra twist, this year the themes were homophones– words that sound the same but have a different meaning, such as peace and piece. The Museum Art challenge was open to everyone - no experience necessary!
ViewThe National Museum of Rural Life is open and tickets are available to book online.
ViewLearn more about what’s changed to help you plan your visit to the National Museum of Rural Life.
ViewExplore inside the National Museum of Rural Life with your class using our themed trails.
ViewThe Wester Kittochside Farm at National Museum of Rural Life was owned and run by the Reid family for more than 400 years. Find out how the tenth laird and his family celebrated Christmas and New Year on the farm.
ViewMary Stewart's life was nothing if not eventful. Get the facts about her tumultuous life and death here.
ViewThe history of the Reid family and farming on the Wester Kittochside farm National Museum of Rural Life.
ViewMore than 10 million objects make their home at the National Museum of Scotland. Discover the secrets of our treasures with this unique five-part series.
ViewExplore the highlights of the museum and our working farm with this family trail.
ViewIn 2016, we celebrated 150 years since the magnificent building that houses the National Museum of Scotland first opened to the public. Explore the Museum’s history here.
ViewOur working farm at the National Museum of Rural Life is home to Ayrshire, Aberdeen Angus and Highland cattle, Tamworth pigs, sheep, hens and Clydesdale horses.
ViewDiscover objects on loan to the new Trimontium Museum in the Scottish Borders
ViewJoin curator Lydia Prosser for a guided virtual tour of our Kingdom of the Scots gallery at the National Museum of Scotland.
ViewDiscover the life of the National Bard through the collections of National Museums Scotland.
ViewVisitors discovered some of the treasures within the National Museum Scotland's significant collection of oracle bones, the second largest in the world outside of China.
ViewExplore a range of resources and offers for home education groups and individuals.
ViewLong before the French Revolution, the Scots had invented and were using the beheading machine known as the Maiden. It was used to execute criminals and political opponents of the crown from 1564 to 1710.
ViewAfter 4,000 years the plough is still with us and its development has been at a slow and steady pace but the basic technology has remained the same. Discover more about this essential tool through ploughs in our collection.
ViewLearn where food comes from or how to make butter in one of our facilitator led workshops.
ViewJoin Chief Chebe as he takes you on two African storytelling adventures at the National Museum of Scotland.
ViewRecreate your favourite museum objects and places using the LEGO you have at home!
ViewSummer is usually the season for gala days and rural shows, including our own Heavy Horse Show. Celebrate the champions you know – family, friends or even pets - by making them a personalised rosette!
ViewWe’ve teamed up with upcyling experts Ostrero and artist Bryony Knox to create three paper-cut designs inspired by Scottish animals. Choose from a stately stag, a magical unicorn or a red squirrel! The designs are inspired by paper-cut art from Mexico . Look out for some examples in our Patterns of Life gallery.
ViewForts were not just military bases, they became the heart of communities
ViewUncover the landscape of L’Éden, a set of 20 rolls of 19th-century scenic wallpaper and discover how this spectacular wallcovering has been conserved by the Museum.
ViewThis striking fusion of styles, traditions, and Scottish and Ugandan cultures is designer José Hendo's sustainable fashion statement for our times.
ViewWhat inspires you in our museums? Get creative and join our month-long online art challenge at National Museums Scotland!
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